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Martin_H

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  1. I have been handed a box of bits containing a classic Graupner Bell 47 from the '70's. Not exactly in pristine condition, it shows the ravages of time from 42 years of storage in a shed in tropical North Queensland. I remember well the adverts in Aeromodeller, drooling over the pages of exotica as a pimply faced teenager. Frustrated with lack of access to these kits (and the requisite funding) I made up in my professional career by becoming a helicopter maintenance engineer and later aircrew technical writer for the Australian Defence Force. This will be a long term restoration project. The HB25 (specially produced by Hirtenberger for this kit) does not appear to have survived very well. It would be a shame, I think to replace this little gem with an electric motor, so, if anyone out there can offer advice on restoration... The other factor is the frame, and whether the years have been kind to the plastic structure. I am concerned a degree of brittleness through age may prevent the airframe surviving my unique flying (= landing) style. So, phellow heliophiles, is restoration to flying condition a reasonable proposition or should I turn this once classic kit into a museum piece?
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  5. I have managed to procure, at a very reasonable cost, a Vario XLC Helicopter and JetCat SPT5H turbine, practically NIB with all parts still sealed in their original packaging. The Vario XLC is designed as a camera platform and I will mount a Tarot gimbal and camera to try it out. Additionally, I want to explore mounting LiDAR point scanners for mapping and architectural scanning. Back to the XLC, has anyone had any experience building and flying this behemoth of a helicopter? Apart from some promising youtube clips, I can find very little in the online forums.
  6. Posted by Phil 9 on 04/10/2016 18:44:32: we will have to a revote as now all the star signs have changed **LINK** AAAAAuuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
  7. Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 04/10/2016 21:18:18: Guys - its a bit of fun that's all. Tongue in cheek - yes? BEB As opposed to Foot in Mouth?
  8. Balsa, like any aircraft timber, should not be allowed to dry out. Most aircraft timbers have a moisture content of between 8 and 15% and this moisture content gives the timber its resilience when in use. Above 15% and you risk rotting, and below 8% the timber becomes too dry to function beyond decorative purposes. In full-size use, timber is varnished or otherwise sealed to prevent moisture loss, something we don't tend to do with our balsa models because of the weight. When building full-size wooden aircraft, a moisture content meter is essential and part of the recording and certifying process. So, apart from sealing all exposed timber surfaces, the ideal solution would be to keep your kits and models in an environment, not too dry and not too humid, that prevents the timber from drying out or from going mouldy and rotten. I would suggest trying Deluxe Materials Ezy-Dope or (my choice) Ezy-Cote when building models, and good storage practices including bagging for unbuilt kits or timber supplies.
  9. This classic book is a must-read for scale and large model fliers. The biggest lesson you can learn from this book is the relation between the throttle and climb/descent; and the elevator with airspeed. Settle the upwind/downwind argument for good, learn to sideslip and to use the fuselage to slow down without flaps. Read and practice the flying principles in this book and your entire approach to flying large models will change for the better.
  10. Check out Morris'Mini Motors - they do a conversion for the 7 cyl evolution engines
  11. I went electric originally with my larger models because of the cost and availability of glow fuel, but have returned to IC in the form of petrol 4 strokes (gassers). My biggest consumables cost is a good quality oil (I use Deluxe Power Model 2T-S, mainly because my Saito's are an expensive outlay), I get my fuel fresh from my local service station and if I don't fly for a while I can use any unmixed excess in my car or lawn mower. Instead of a bulky starter battery or 6S flight packs I just need to carry enough 2S packs for the receiver and ignition for the days aviating. Many large glow motors can be converted to petrol (even the smaller 4 strokes such as the OS 26 or the recently released Saito FA30, though these need some basic engineering skill and workshop facilities) and complete conversion kits are readily available online for the larger motors (check out Morris' Mini Motors https://www.morrisminimotors.com/).
  12. Posted by Jon Harper - Laser Engines on 16/11/2017 14:58:34: It sounds like you covered the bases as well as is reasonable to expect so it would seem that the model itself is just very flicky. Tweaking the ailerons will help a bit but you may also need to change your landing technique and use throttle instead of elevator to control your decent. I have to use this method with my Sea Fury as it will slow up and stall easily if a 'normal' approach is used. I run in with a fair bit of power and only use the elevator to tease to nose up to horizontal before wheeling in. 3 point landings are a nono and i suspect the mossie will be the same. Interesting...I thought it was common practice to use throttle to control rate of descent and elevator to control approach speed - just as full size... I suggest all modellers read 'Stick and Rudder: An explanation of the Art of Flying' by Wolfgang Langewiesche. If you cannot get a copy of this book then it is available on digital download from Amazon, and at a quite reasonable price, considering what I paid for my hardback copy! I learnt to do flapless sideslip landings with my 1/4 scale Cub using the techniques in this book.
  13. Posted by Ian Moody on 19/11/2017 15:38:55: Posted by Martin_H on 19/11/2017 11:23:27: Fitted my Saito FG11's to the ply nacelle mount - perfect fit! Was worried I'd have to redo the mount holes to suit the Saito engine mount but no problem! Do you have any photos of the installation and of the inside of the nacelles also of the inside of the fuselage please Martin. There is very little to be found on the web about this model yet except for someone flying it like a pylon racer in Vietnam and I would love to see some more detailed pictures of the parts. I quite fancy one of these. Thanks Ian Hello Ian, Check your inbox, I can send a copy of the Seagull Manual in glorious technicolour!
  14. Fitted my Saito FG11's to the ply nacelle mount - perfect fit! Was worried I'd have to redo the mount holes to suit the Saito engine mount but no problem!
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